The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale (Penguin Classics) |
 |
 click here for more details, find new or used items |
Robert Louis Stevenson
|
|
Pages: 288 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0140434461
Pub: Penguin Classics
Pub date: 1996-07-25
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 94042
Reader Reviews:
Wonderful (2/2 people found this helpful)
This novel by RL Stevenson is definitely his finest, and I would also suggest that it's one of the greatest novels in the English language. Athough of course deemed a classic, it doesn't quite seem to get the recognition it deserves, and even in terms of the author's own work, 'Treasure Island' and 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' usually get more attention. 'The Master of Ballantrae' though, is more complex and rewarding than either of those works, although it does share some of the latter's good and evil themes.
The basic story is one about two brothers - one seemingly a good, reasonable man, and the other, the elder brother who becomes disinherited after the Jacobite wars, a personification of evil. The story unfolds via a variety of narrators, and through a series of chapters and set-pieces, some of which are highly dramatic. There are duels, flights, plots, secrets, foreign adventures and family dramas all woven into a very gripping novel which defies classification as simply a thriller or drama or adventure story. It is all of these and more, and has a lot to say about loyalty, psychology, greed and personal motivation.
Although written in the late nineteenth century this novel remains easily readable and accessible and I believe that very few people would be disappointed by it. Having found it now, I fully intend to re-read it down the years and it's become a real favourite of mine. Don't hesitate to give it a go!
Quite simply the best book I have ever read (7/8 people found this helpful)
I have always liked everything written by Stevenson, but The Master of Ballantrae far outstrips everything else. It is a subtle insight into human nature, and a great adventure story as well. The episodes are majestic, and the story, though bleak, is very touching. I have read it many, many times and think more of it the more I read it (to paraphrase Mackellar on page 1).
Similar Products
Short Stories
The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (Wordsworth Classics)
Catriona
Robinson Crusoe (Oxford World's Classics)
Treasure Island (Wordsworth's Children's Classics)
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> By Period -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> By Period -> 19th Century -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> The Classics -> General AAS
Books -> Special Features -> Search Inside!
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)